Chapter 2: Chapter 2
The cold, metal bars slid open, and Lockey stepped out of his cell, the confines of juvenile detention releasing him back into the world. Five years had passed since the night that changed everything, and now, at seventeen, Lockey found himself adrift in a sea of uncertainty. He stood tall at 5'7, his green hair now a deeper shade of emerald, his demeanour burdened by a haunting melancholy.
The past weighed heavily upon him, his life devoid of joy and contentment. The faces of his parents haunted his dreams, their voices echoing in the silent corridors of his memories. As Lockey attempted to readjust to life outside the cold walls of the detention centre, despite the gravity of his actions, Lockey remained unrepentant. He bore the consequences of his choices with a steely resolve, the memory of his parents' blood on his hands serving as a haunting yet affirming reminder of the path he had chosen. Days turned into months, and months into years, as Lockey forged a new life for himself. Yet he remained a prisoner of his past, the scars of his actions etched deep into his soul. Now, ten years after that fateful night, Lockey stood alone, his green eyes gazing solemnly into the distance, the shadows of his past forever lurking in the corners of his mind. "You're free to go," the guard announced, the cell door swinging open. Lockey stepped out into the world. "It has been 5 years, and this is how the world looks," he said, an uncertain future looming before him.
With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, he found himself wandering the streets, struggling to survive."I wish I was still in that damn prison," Lockey thought bitterly, his teeth chattering from the biting cold. "At least I had a roof over my head, food in my belly, and a semblance of peace while at the juvenile prison," as he wished he could go back.Months passed, and Lockey's hope dwindled.
With each frigid night spent huddled in doorways and each empty day spent looking for scraps, his resolve weakened. The cold seeped into his bones, numbing his limbs and his spirit.As he lay shivering beneath a tattered blanket, Lockey's despair grew. "Maybe it would be better to just give up," he mused, the thought of death offering a twisted comfort. "Maybe then, I'll finally find the peace that eludes me."Amidst the haze, a figure began to take shape—a stranger with an outstretched hand and a compassionate gaze. With a sharp intake of breath, Lockey wiped his eyes and focused on the man before him, perhaps in his early fifties, who offered him a lifeline "Come with me," the man said, his voice gentle yet firm. With no choice, I took his helping hand and followed him.I blinked my eyes open, finding myself in a cosy bed. Confused, I felt the soft mattress and pinched my arm, just to be sure I wasn't dreaming or, you know, dead. "Hahaha, you're a funny one!" came a voice from my left. I turned to see an old geezer, probably in his fifties, laughing away like he'd just heard the world's best joke.
"You saved me... but why?" I asked, genuinely confused. "Couldn't let a kid like you die on my watch," he said, chuckling again. "I don't have much space, but the house is yours when I kick the bucket. And trust me, with my cancer, that won't be long!" "So, you saved me to be your heir?" I asked, my confusion growing by the second. This guy definitely needed a check-up from the neck up.
He offered me food, shelter, and his only bedroom. "You sleep on the bed; I'll take the couch," he insisted, laughing again. "It's your house now, kiddo!" I didn't argue. "Hey, Laughing Face," I started, "what would you do if a fairy granted you extra years?" He gave me a confused look. "Hahaha, there's no such thing as fairies!" Awkward silence. "Never mind," I said, wondering if the cancer had affected his brain, too. Some day's later, the old geezer condition worsened. Like he'd predicted, the old guy's time was almost up. He lay on the bed as I stood beside him in case he needed anything. "Hey, I never asked your name," he said, his voice shaky. "Can't die without knowing my heir's name, right?" "Lockey," I replied, "and no last name. I ditched it a while back. But what's the name of the man giving me his house and stuff?" "Albert," he replied, straining to speak. After a moment of silence, he whispered, "I know you're that kid from the news five years ago. The one who..." He trailed off, coughing. "I don't need to know everything, but remember this: be a good person, keep a calm mind, and have a pure heart. Even if others aren't so nice."
I stayed quiet, unsure what to say. "Cough... cough... Farewell, kiddo!" Albert laughed one last time before, well, you know... kicking the bucket. I gave him a proper burial, and in the short time I stayed with him, I already started missing his psychopathic laughter.
The echoes of Albert's laughter still rang in Lockey's mind as he stood beside the old man's grave, paying his final respects. In the short time they'd spent together, Lockey had grown fond of Albert and his quirky sense of humour. With Albert's parting words etched into his heart, Lockey embarked on a new chapter of his life, determined to honour the wisdom imparted to him. Though his past still haunted him, he vowed to focus on the present and create a brighter future.
As Lockey walked through the bustling city streets, the memories of his past began to fade into the background. The cold wind that had once chilled him to the bone now felt like a gentle reminder of the present, nudging him forward on his journey. He no longer dwelled on the past but instead focused on the here and now—on the possibilities that lay before him. As Lockey strolled through the vibrant city streets, a striking poster seized his attention, causing him to come to an abrupt halt. The poster promoted a renowned educational institution, Fair Tail Guild, that opened its doors to students from all walks of life—with one proviso. Only the top five scorers in the entrance exam would earn admittance, granting them a full scholarship and access to the school's exceptional resources. Lockey couldn't help but smirk at the name.
"Fair Tail Guild... sounds more like an elementary school than a high school," he muttered under his breath, amusement tingeing his words. His interest peaked, and he continued reading. As his gaze landed on a note at the bottom of the poster, his eyes widened in surprise. "Everyone is accepted, even those who possess unique powers." A surge of excitement coursed through him. "Now that's interesting," he exclaimed, his voice tinged with newfound enthusiasm. Lockey's eyes locked onto the peculiar key he had summoned, a mix of curiosity and apprehension washing over him. "I've always wondered if I was the only one with these strange powers," he mused, his voice barely above a whisper. The thought of others like him existing in the world brought a sense of comfort and belonging, but also a renewed sense of caution. As he pondered the possibilities, Lockey couldn't help but feel a twinge of suspicion towards the Fair Tail Guild. A school that not only accepted but also embraced those with unique abilities seemed almost too good to be true.
What if there was a hidden agenda at play? And what of the others with powers—could the humans in that school trust them? Amidst his concerns, Lockey found himself reminiscing about his days in elementary school. He couldn't help but wonder if any of the kids he had once known, the ones who had also possessed unusual abilities, would be at Fair Tail Guild. With a wary yet determined resolve, Lockey held the mysterious key tightly in his hand. No matter the uncertainties that lay ahead, he was resolved to uncover the secrets behind his powers and carve a path towards understanding—even if it meant facing the enigmatic Fair Tail Guild and its powerful students head-on. As the sun rose, casting a golden hue over the city, Lockey felt the weight of the day settle upon his shoulders. The burden of his past mingled with the possibilities of the future, and he knew that the choices he made today would forever alter the course of his life. Today marked the day of his high school entrance event—a pivotal moment in his life, fraught with anticipation and uncertainty.
As Lockey traversed the bustling city streets, he navigated a sea of faces, each one lost in their own thoughts and struggles. To the world, he was just another anonymous youth, his extraordinary power hidden from prying eyes. His hands burrowed deep into his pockets, the soft fabric brushing against the secret scars of his past, and his eyes remained transfixed on the weathered concrete beneath his feet. Lockey prepares for the school event at one of the most popular schools in Atherium as he leaves the house. The bus arrives, and Lockey boards and takes a seat by the window. Gazing outside, he observes the world around him: children playing happily at the park, couples embracing each other lovingly. The sight stirs a sense of bitterness within him. The bus eventually reaches the school, where Lockey is scheduled to take the entrance exam. As Lockey approaches the examination hall, he's taken aback by the sheer number of people gathered for the entrance exam. He estimates roughly 200 potential students, which speaks to the school's popularity.
The hall falls silent as the school's headmaster, Golder, takes the podium to deliver a speech. Golder announces that "Welcome young ones, as you have all read, scholarships will be awarded to the top five who get the highest in the examination, with a smile on his face, causing a stir among both students and parents alike. "I am very surprised to see this many students.". Lockey can sense the tension and anticipation in the room, as securing one of the coveted scholarships would be a significant accomplishment considering the number of students present. As the presenter discussed the entrance exam, a hand shot up in the crowd. "What happens if you're not part of the top 5?" the attendee enquired, voicing a question that had been on many minds. The presenter nodded, acknowledging the concern. "Well, it's ultimately your decision if you still wish to study at our esteemed institution or pursue other options." As the attendees processed the response, a murmur rippled through the crowd. The prospect of having to make such a crucial choice added an extra layer of pressure to the already high-stakes exam."If you do choose to study here without a scholarship," the presenter continued, "all fees would be paid by you or your parents." With this information, the attendees exchanged concerned glances. For many, the dream of attending the prestigious Fair Tail Guild seemed to hang in the balance, making the entrance exam more daunting than ever.
As Golder concluded his address and stepped away from the podium, the weight of the opportunity at hand settled upon the crowd, creating an atmosphere thick with anticipation and pressure. Attendees exchanged nervous glances, and hushed whispers filled the air as they contemplated their prospects. "So, our fate rests on this exam," one anxious attendee murmured to another. "That's a lot of pressure." For Lockey, the days leading up to the exam held a different sort of significance. Confident in his abilities and his remarkably high IQ, he chose not to study. He was certain that his intellect would secure him a spot in the top five—or so he hoped. "Well, I believe in my abilities; I think I can make it without putting in any extra effort." "After all, my main purpose is not the school but rather those with abilities like mine." Instead, Lockey found himself captivated by a mysterious, aged secret passage "he'd discovered hidden deep within the recesses of his home. "I wonder if Old Man Albert knew about this strange book." this well-kept secret. As he carefully turned the delicate pages, Lockey felt a strange connection to the cryptic passages, which only fuelled his curiosity further.
"This book seems to hold secrets that could change everything," Lockey mused, tracing his fingers over the faded script. "I wonder if Albert knew about its existence all along." As the day drew to a close, the city streets, now bathed in the golden glow of twilight, seemed to mirror the mixture of anticipation and uncertainty that filled his mind. Upon arriving at his doorstep, Lockey noticed a faint light seeping through a small crack in the floorboards of his room. Curiosity piqued, and he carefully lifted the loose boards, revealing a hidden passage beneath.
Lockey descended into the secret chamber, feeling as though he were on the cusp of a life-altering discovery. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, inside the tome, there were a lot of books, but one seemed to interest Lockey as it was older than the other books in the tome.
Living the tome and securely closing it with the book in his hand, he couldn't shake the feeling that Old Man Albert might have known about this well-kept secret. The book appeared to be at least 50 years old, its contents filled with intricate drawings of keys and padlocks—images reminiscent of the ones that appeared in Lockey's hands whenever he willed them to. He summoned his key, examining it closely. As he assumed a fighting stance, the key transformed into the same dagger he had used on the people he called his parents. "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I'd be holding this very same dagger again," he mused, a blend of awe and a strange sense of justice colouring his words. Years had passed since he had last held the blade—the same one that had brought a fateful end to those who had once wronged him.
As if to test the passage of time, he drew the blade across a nearby glass, its sharp edge slicing cleanly through the fragile material with ease. The shattered pieces fell to the ground, a stark reminder of the dagger's deadly potency."
Incredible," he whispered, his eyes fixated on the weapon in his grasp. "Its edge remains as sharp as ever." The past may have shaped him, but it no longer held sway over his life. Now, with the dagger in hand, he felt a renewed sense of strength—a power that lay not within the weapon but within himself. As he delved deeper into the book, Lockey found that he could somehow comprehend the strange writings within, even though the symbols were completely foreign to him.
As Lockey dove further into the cryptic pages, he discovered that he could somehow decipher the peculiar script, despite its unfamiliarity. The symbols, though foreign, seemed to speak to him in a language he instinctively understood. Upon reaching the final page, Lockey's gaze fell upon a card that fit perfectly within its confines. Intrigued, he drew it out, examining it more closely. "Why does this look so much like a bank card?" he wondered aloud, perplexed by the object's familiarity. However, this was no ordinary card. It bore symbols, each imbued with a deeper meaning: a plus sign, a heart, and other enigmatic markings.
As Lockey studied them, he couldn't shake the feeling that these symbols represented something profound—perhaps life and vitality, or the forces that sustained them. The card was not just a mystery; it was a puzzle begging to be solved. Exhausted from his efforts, he hid the book in a secure place. Night gave way to morning, and Lockey prepared himself for the journey to the school that sounds more like an elementary school than high school.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone